DENVER—Populus Denver, a carbon positive hotel that celebrates and protects the natural world, is pleased to announce Drylands Agroecology Research (Longmont, Colo.), Denver Urban Gardens (Denver) and Colorado Grain Chain (Longmont, Colo.) as the H1 2026 recipients of the Populus Denver Stewardship Grant. Launched in 2025, the Populus Denver Stewardship Grant is an ongoing philanthropic initiative that commits 1 percent of the hotel’s topline revenue to supporting people and projects advancing environmental stewardship across forests, food systems, built environments, and communities throughout the greater Denver and Mountain West region.
Through its biannual, employee-led grant cycle, Populus Denver team members reviewed applications submitted by regional environmental organizations and voted to select recipients whose work resonates with them most. The process reflects Populus Denver’s commitment to increasing team agency and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship by empowering employees to play an active role in directing the hotel’s philanthropic impact. The H1 2026 recipients will receive funding to advance initiatives that strengthen ecosystems, expand access to fresh food, and promote regenerative agricultural practices throughout Colorado.
The biannual grant process is one of two complementary funding tracks, alongside the year-long Stewardship Partner initiative, which was introduced earlier this year with the selection of Wildlands Restoration Volunteers as Populus Denver’s inaugural partner.
‘Deepening Our Investment in the Land & the People’
“We are incredibly proud to continue building on the Populus Denver Stewardship Grant as a pillar of our commitment to the environment and our community,” said Jon Buerge, CEO of Urban Villages, creator of Populus Hotels. “Having already supported impactful organizations across Colorado, we remain dedicated to deepening our investment in the land and the people working to protect it. Each of the selected organizations represents innovative approaches to environmental stewardship, and we are honored to help advance their work.”
Receiving the highest number of employee votes, Drylands Agroecology Research (DAR) was selected for its Soil Water Stewardship Pilot, a three-year initiative designed to improve soil health and water retention on Colorado farms through regenerative practices including terracing, swale construction, agroforestry, and rotational grazing. Stewardship Grant funding will support the program’s first year, helping to increase climate resilience, improve soil water retention, and reduce irrigation needs for Colorado producers.
Denver Urban Gardens (DUG), which has spent more than 50 years cultivating community gardens and food forests across Denver, was selected to support the creation of a new food forest at the Clayton Early Learning Center. Last year, the organization grew more than 650,000 pounds of food through its network of gardens and orchards, all of which was donated to help address food insecurity while expanding access to fresh, culturally relevant produce throughout the city.
Colorado Grain Chain (CGC) was selected for its work advancing regenerative, locally grown grains as the foundation of a more resilient regional food system. The organization connects Colorado farmers producing climate-smart grains with regional markets, creating new opportunities for producers while increasing consumer access to locally grown products. Grant funding will support the production of a documentary film highlighting regenerative grain systems and their role in strengthening Colorado’s agricultural communities and long-term food resilience.
Grant Has Expanded to Populus Seattle
The H1 2026 recipients represent the continued impact of the Populus Denver Stewardship Grant, which has supported organizations including Manna, SustainEd and Cal-Wood Education Center in advancing conservation, environmental education and regenerative food systems across Colorado. Following the program’s success in Denver, the Populus Stewardship Grant has expanded to Populus Seattle as part of Populus Hotels’ broader commitment to putting the health of the planet first.
Across the collection, sustainability initiatives include sequestering more carbon than the hotels emit over their lifecycles, operating on 100 percent renewable electricity, planting a tree for every night’s stay through the One Night, One Tree program, offering low-waste dining concepts, and creating guest experiences that foster a deeper connection to the natural world.
To apply and learn more about the Populus Denver Stewardship Grant, visit https://populusdenver.com/grant/. For more information about Populus Denver, visit www.populusdenver.com.
